Columbus GA museums include the Columbus Museum, with free admission, a children’s gallery and a garden, and the National Civil War Naval Museum. Choose the Columbus Museum for a visit with indoor galleries and outdoor grounds; plan separately for the Naval Museum, which is about a five-minute drive from a three-star hotel in downtown Columbus.
- Columbus Museum: Free admission; closed Mondays and holidays.
- National Civil War Naval Museum: A Columbus attraction.
- Garden: The Columbus Museum’s Bradley Olmsted Garden is open during museum hours.
How to choose a Columbus museum
The Columbus Museum combines galleries with the Daniel & Kathelen Amos Children’s Gallery and the Bradley Olmsted Garden. The children’s space has hands-on activities, including a mini-museum, treehouse and life-size art. The garden features winding paths, native Southern plants, a pool house and a grotto.
The National Civil War Naval Museum is a Columbus attraction. A guide to the National Civil War Naval Museum covers what to know before you go.
Columbus Museum
The Columbus Museum combines art and regional history with a garden and a dedicated children’s gallery at 1251 Wynnton Road.
The Bradley Olmsted Garden was designed by the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s for W.C. Bradley. The nine-acre site, including the garden, was donated to the people of Columbus in 1947. The museum building grew from the Bradley home into an 89,000-square-foot facility.
If you’re visiting with children, the Daniel & Kathelen Amos Children’s Gallery provides an interactive play space with hands-on activities. Both the gallery and the garden are free and open during regular museum hours.
The museum has an east entrance and drop-off area for visitors with mobility impairments. An elevator serves the upper and lower levels, and accessible bathrooms are on all three floors.
Bags larger than 11 × 15 × 6 inches, back-carried baby carriers, large umbrellas, tripods and similar equipment must be stored in complimentary lockers. Personal photography is permitted, but flash, tripods, lights and selfie sticks require authorization; food and drink are not allowed in galleries.
National Civil War Naval Museum
The National Civil War Naval Museum is a Columbus attraction.
Its name can be easy to confuse with the National Civil War Museum, which is located at 1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania—not Columbus, Georgia. Check the museum’s location before planning a visit, and use the Naval Museum’s own visitor information for details about its exhibits and hours.
Tickets, hours and visit planning
The Columbus Museum is free to enter, suggests a donation and closes on Mondays and holidays.
Its regular hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The children’s gallery and garden follow the museum’s regular hours. You can check the official site before you go.
For a downtown-focused day, the city centre is about an eight-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the hotel. The Downtown Columbus neighborhood guide covers the area.
The Columbus Museum can fit into a one-day Columbus, Georgia itinerary alongside time in the city centre.
FAQs
Is the Columbus Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free, and the museum suggests a donation.
Is the Columbus Museum open on Mondays?
No. It is closed on Mondays and holidays.
Does the Columbus Museum have a garden?
Yes. The Bradley Olmsted Garden has winding paths, native Southern plants, a pool house and a grotto. It is open during museum hours.
Is the National Civil War Museum in Columbus, Georgia?
No. The National Civil War Museum is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The National Civil War Naval Museum is the Columbus attraction.